Expansion joint cover



March 5, 1968 c. P. BALZER ETAL 3,371,456

EXPANSION JOINT COVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1965 INVENTORS CLAUDE F? BALZER EDWARD M. CORMAN HLME R A. REIFF ATTORNEYS March 5, 1968 c. P. BALZER ETAL 3,371,456

EXPANSION JOINT COVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 1, 1965 INVENTORS CLAUDE I? OIIZER EDWARD A. C(IRMIN BY RLMER A-RA'IFF United States Patent Ofiice 3,371,456 EXPANSEON JOINT COVER Claude P. Balzer, Edward M. Corman, and Almer A. Reiir, Wichita, Karts, assignors to Balco, Inc., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 466,218 4 Claims. (Cl. 52-278) ABSTRACT OF THE DiEiCLOSURE This invention is in expansion joint cover structures to provide an attractive appearance at the expansion joints in building structures of monolithic concrete, concrete blocks, bricks and the like. The cover structure is such that it can be arranged with portions flush mounted relative to the surface of the adjacent wall and maintain the covering relation with the joint while permitting expansion and contraction plus right angle building movement. The cover structures are adapted to variations to cover expansion joints between building sections such as floors, floors and walls, walls and/or ceilings, and include base members for mounting on the structural members adjacent the margins thereof alongside of the joint and cover members for securing to the respective base members and cooperating therewith to define longitudinally extending openings therebetween and an elongated plate members spanning the space between the base and cover assembly then extending through the longitudinal openings of the respective assemblies and slidable relative thereto, the structures having stop portions to limit relative movement of the plate member and the base and cover assemblies to maintain the plate member in its closing position. The structures may also include resilient members in the base and cover assemblies having slidable engagement with a plate member to resiliently retain same in the intermediate position and also resilient strips filling space between the cover members at the joint that is substantially flush with the outer face of the cover members. The expansion joint cover assemblies provide a sealing engagement with the movable portions whereby they can be mounted exteriorly or interiorly after the building structure has been completed and permit multiple directional relative movement of the building sections that the joint covered therewith.

It has long been known that in building structures of monolithic concrete, concrete blocks, bricks and the like, relatively long walls, ceilings or floors will crack due to expansion and contraction. It has, thereore, been the practice in such building structures to make portions in sections with expansion joints to accommodate the expansion and contraction and thereby prevent such cracks. Such joints have presented difiiculties as they can be unsightly and provide problems in protecting the interior of the structure from atmospheric conditions such as snow, rain and the like. Attempts have been made to provide strips over the expansion joints, but those heretofore used have been difficult to install and use, project out from the adjacent wall surfaces and thereby may be considered unsightly both on the interior and exterior of the building. Also, such strips primarily accommodate relative movement of the building sections in a single plane and in many instances are inefiicient in providing suitable protection.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide an expansion joint cover structure adapted to cover expansion joints between building sections such as floors, floors and walls, walls and/or ceilings and 3,371,456 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 eliminate the difiiculties above mentioned; to provide such an expansion joint cover structure adapted to cover an expansion joint between sections of a floor and/or wall and a wall and/ or ceiling having concrete, concrete blocks, brick or metal or combinations of them, with portions of said cover structure having exposed surfaces substantially flush with adjacent surfaces of the respective floor, wall or ceiling; to provide such a structure that includes a mounting member secured to a section of fioor, wall or ceiling adjacent to joint and a cover member mounted on said mounting member in covering relation thereto with an internal, longitudinally extending cavity therebetween opening toward the joint and a plate member between said mounting member and said cover member and extending from the opening therebetween in overlapping relation to the joint and the other section of the building at said joint; to provide such a structure with supporting means on the other building wall section for said plate member; to provide such a structure wherein said supporting member on the other building section includes a mounting member and cover member mounted thereon and defining a cavity therebetwcen with a portion of said plate member extending into the cavity; to provide such an expansion joint cover with resilient means carried by the mounting member and/or cover member and resiliently and slidingly engaging the plate member and permitting movement of the plate member toward and away from the cover member whereby the expansion joint cover accommodates relative movement of the building sections at said joint in all directions; to provide such a structure with a resilient filler in overlying relation to the plate member and engaging the adjacent edge of the cover member, said filler member having an exposed surface that is flush with the exposed surface of the cover member; to provide an expansion joint cover structure that is economical to manufacture, easily installed, convenient to repair or replace, and which can be mounted exteriorly or interiorly after the building structure has been completed, which is decorative when installed and which permits multiple directional relative movement of the building sections at said joint.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the acompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an expansion joint cover structure embodying the features of the present invention in place on the interior of a building Wall in covering relation to an expansion joint between two sections thereof.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the expansion joint cover structure and wall portions taken on the line 2-2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a form of expansion joint cover structure in place on the interior of a building to cover an expansion joint between two sections of a wall arranged in angular relation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the expansion joint cover structure taken on the line 4-4, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a form of expansion joint cover structure in place on the interior of a building to cover an expansion joint between a floor and wall.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the expansion joint cover structure of FIG. 5 taken on the line 6-6, FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a sectional view through an expansion joint cover structure similar to that shown in FIG. 6 and arranged with a floor covering extending over the cover member of the floor section.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a form of expansion joint cover structure in place on the interior of a building to cover an expansion joint between two floor sections.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the expansion joint cover of FIG. 8 taken on the line 99, FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view through an expansion joint cover structure similar to that shown in FIG. 9 and arranged with a floor covering extending over the cover members.

Referring more in detail to the drawings.

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a portion of a building structure having sections 2 and 3 separated by an expansion joint or space 4. The sections 2 and 3 may be wall or ceiling sections and may be of monolithic concrete, building blocks, brick, metal or other combinations thereof, or other suitable material. In the structure illustrated, the wall sections 2 and 3 have faces 5 and 6 respectively and the expansion joint cover structure generally designated by the reference numeral 7, when mounted, covers the expansion joint 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The expansion joint structure normally extends from floor to ceiling except when broken by a window or door or from wall to wall except when broken by other installations or fixtures.

In the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the expansion joint cover structure includes base members 8 arranged on each building section at the joint, said base members preferably being formed of metal and an elongate strip as, for example, an aluminum extrusion. Base members 8 are arranged in opposed relation and each includes a flat strip or plate portion 9 having a face 10 adapted to engage the face of the building section as, for example, the face 5 of the section 2 and the face 6 of the section 3. The base member 8 is preferably secured to the building section along the joint 4 by suitable fastening devices 11 spaced longitudinally along the plate portion 9. In the illustrated structure the fastening devices 11 are in the form of bolts, each having a shank 12 that extends through respective apertures 13 in the plate portion 9 and threadedly engaged in suitable bushings 14 recessed in holes 15 in the respective wall sections, the bushings being anchored in the section in any suitable manner as, for example, the bolts and bushings forming expansion bolt structures for anchoring the base member to the respective building sections.

The base plate portions 9 have outwardly projecting portions 16 that extend longitudinally of the strip portion along an edge 17 which is preferably positioned substantially along the respective edge 18 of the building section defining a side of the joint 4. In the structure illustrated, the outwardly projecting member 16 is recessed at 19 to receive elongate resilient strip 20 as later described. In the structure illustrated, the member 16 has a longitudinally extending groove 21 for lightness in weight that extends from the recess 19 to the plate portion 9 whereby the member 16 has opposed portions 22 that terminate in outer faces 23. The base member 8 also has a second outwardly extending member 24 adjacent the opposite side edge of the plate portion 9 from the member 16. In the illustrated structure, the member 24 is angular in shape and extends laterally.

An elongated outer or cover member 25 is mounted on the base member 8 and cooperates therewith to define a cavity 26 therebetween with a longitudinally extending opening 27 toward the joint. In the structure illustrated, the cover member 25 is a plate portion with an outer face 28 and an inwardly projecting portion 29 in overlying and spaced relation from the outwardly projecting portion 16 on the base plate member 9, said inwardly projecting member 29 having a recess 30 for receiving a resilient seal member 31 as later described. The opposite side of the cover member strip has an inwardly projecting portion or flange 32 with spaced ribs 33 thereon adapted to engage and receive therebetween the laterally extending portion of the member 24 of the base member 8 whereby the engagement of the ribs 33 and flange 32 with the member 24 of the base member positions the cover member 25 relative to the base member 8. The cover member is suitably secured to the base member as, for example, by screws 34 extending through bores 35 in the flanges 32 with threaded shanks 36 threaded into the member 24. In the illustrated structure, member 24 has a longitudinally extending groove 37 of slightly less diameter than the shank of the screw 34 whereby said screw may be of a self-threading type and thread into the groove to anchor the cover member 25 to the base member 8. There are a plurality of the screws 34 spaced along the length of the joint cover structure to positively secure the cover members to the base member. It is preferred that a wall covering, such as plaster, panelling or the like 38 be applied to the building section faces and abut against the flanges 32 with the outer surface 39 of said plaster or the like being flush with the outer face 28 of the respective cover member 25.

A plate member 40 extends across the joint 4 through the openings 27 between the cover members 25 and base.

members 8 and into the cavities 26 therebetween. The plate member 40 is a planar member of suitable width whereby the side edges 41 are disposed within the cavities 26 and spaced from sides thereof whereby said side edges 41 will remain in the cavities under any possible anticipated movement widening or narrowing the joint space 4. In the structure illustrated, the plate member 40 has longitudinal ribs or stops 42 at the side edges 41 adapted to engage the respective member 16 to limit movement of the plate member 40 outwardly through the openings 27.

The resilient seal members 20 and 31 are mounted in the recesses 19 and 30 respectively and extend therefrom into resilient and sliding engagement with the opposed faces 43 and 44 of the plate member 40. In the structure illustrated, the resilient members 20 and 31 have key ribs 45 that extend into lateral grooves 46 presenting shoulders 47 holding the resilient members in the recesses.

With this arrangement, the outer face 43 of the plate member 40 is exposed and may be decorated in the same manner as the outer faces 28 of the cover members 25. The thickness of the plate portion 40 relative to the spacing 27 between the members 16 and 29 is such that the plate member 40, can move toward or away from the cover member or base member compressing the respective resilient member. However, normally the resilient members 20 and 31 provide an equalizing resilient engagement with the plate member 40 that tends to keep it centered relative to the spacing forming the openings 27.

The cover members 25 and plate members 40 as well as the base member 8 are all preferably constructed by extrusion methods using metal such as aluminum, magnesium or the like. Also, the resilient strips are elongated and of uniform cross-section whereby they can also be manufactured by extrusion methods. As can be seen, the cover members 25 are flush with the adjacent wall surfaces and they and the outer surface of the plate member 40 can be ornamented or finished as desired. The expansion joint structures can be relatively thin and thereby the distance from the planes of the surfaces 28 of the cover members to the surface 43 of the plate member 40 can be small to be hardly noticeable on the wall sections where they are used. Also, the resilient members 20 and 31 engaging the movable plate provides a seal and permits relative movement of the sections in any direction while maintaining covering of the joint.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown a preferred specific embodiment of the new cover structure of our invention for use in corners to cover the expansion joint between building sections 50 and 51 which can be either wall sections or ceiling sections, that is, a wall and ceiling section where the end of one section substantially abuts against the face of the other section with an expansion joint 52 therebetween. In this embodiment a base member 8 and cover member of the same structure as described relative to the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is secured to the face 53 of one building section but arranged whereby the end 54 of the cover and base members having the opening 27 therebetween is spaced from the end 55 of the wall section 50, said opening 27 facing the joint 52. The plate member is mounted in the cover-base structure on the section and extends therefrom into opening 56 to a cavity 57 between a base member 58 and cover member 59 both of the generally L-shaped structure that turns the corner and has the base member 58 with a plate portion 60 overlying the face 61 of the building section 51 and secured thereto by a suitable expansion bolt structure 62 or other suitable fastening device. With this structure, the base member 58 is generally L-shaped with one leg or plate portion 60 engaging the wall or building section 51 and the other leg or plate portion 63 extending therefrom at an angle and spanning the joint 52 and overlying the face 53 of the building section 50 adjacent the joint 52 as illustrated in FIG. 4. There is an outwardly extending member 64 on the free end of the plate portion 63 that substantially corresponds to the structure of the member portion 16 in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. An outwardly extending member 65 is on the free end of the plate portion 60 and is engaged by a flange 66 that extends inwardly from one leg 67 of the L-shaped cover member 57. The other leg 68 of the cover member 59 overlies the leg 63 of the base member and has an inwardly extending portion or member 69 overlying the member 64. Resilient strips 70 and 71 are mounted in recesses 72 and 73 in the members 68 and 6 respectivelyto resiliently engage the plate 40 to form a sliding seal therewith. The cover plate structure is secured to the base member by means of a suitable fastening device such as a screw 74 that extends through the flange 66 and is threaded into a slot 75 in the member 65, providing substantially the same anchor or connection of the cover member to the base member as is provided in the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In operation this structure is substantially the same in that the plate 40 is slidably mounted between the two base members, cover member assemblies and resiliently supported by the resilient strips so as to permit movement of the sections. Also, surface coatings of plaster or the like '76 is applied to the faces of the building sections and arranged to be flush with the outer surfaces of the cover members as, for example, the outer surface 28 of the cover member 25 and the outer surface of the leg 67 of the cover member 59 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 is shown an embodiment of the expansion joint cover structure of our invention for use between building sections of angular relationship as, for example, between a floor section 77 and a wall section 78. In this structure there is also a pair of members secured together to define a cavity therebetween mounted on a building section adjacent a joint 79 with an opening 80 between the pair of members extending to a cavity 81, said opening facing the joint and adapted to receive a planar portion 82 of a plate member 83 to extend through said opening into the cavity, the planar portion spanning the joint 79. In the structure illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pair of members are a base member 84 and a cover member 85 secured thereto. The base member has a plate portion 86 resting on a surface 87 of the building sections 77, which in the illustrated structure is recessed below the surface 88 of the floor or section which is coplanar with the outer surface 89 of the cover member 85. The base member in the illustrated structure is provided with a downwardly or inwardly inclined portion 90 terminating in a flange 91 extending along the edge 92 of the section 77 defining the joint 79. The member 90 has a longitudinally extending T-slot or way 93 to receive a head 94 or the like or an anchor bolt 95 that extends into the section and secures the base member thereto.

6 The end of the base member 84 adjacent to joint 79 has an outwardly extending member or portion 96 provided with a recess 97 for receiving a resilient seal strip 98 that has a portion extending outwardly and slidably and resiliently engaging a face 99 of a leg or planar portion 82 of a plate member 83 that is secured to the building section 78, said leg or planar portion 82 extends through the opening 80 into the cavity 81. The opposite edge of the base member 84 has an upstanding or outwardly extending member 102 that butts against an edge 103 of a recess mounting the base member and terminates in an edge 104 substantially coplanar with the surface 89 of the section. Spaced from said member 102 is an outwardly extending member 105 provided with a slot or groove 106 for receiving a fastening device 107 for securing the cover plate 85 to the base member. In the structure illustrated, the cover 85 is a fiat elongated plate with grooves 108 in each side edge and extending longitudinally thereof. In the structure illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the groove 108 receives a rib 109 that extends inwardly from the member 102 to form a key that cooperates with the fastening device 107 in holding the cover 85 on the base member and maintaining the opening 80 to the cavity 81. In the structure illustrated, the plate member 83 is L- shaped and has a leg 110 that is secured in overlying relation to the section 78 by a suitable fastening device such as an expansion bolt 01' the like 111. A resilient member 112 is positioned between the planar portion 82 and the underside 113 of the cover member 85 to resiliently and slidingly engage the planar member 82. In the structure illustrated, the space between the cover member 85 and leg 110 of the plate member 83 is filled by a resilient filler member 114 which is preferably integral with the resilient strip 112. The filler and strip are of the nature that they can be made by extrusion methods and preferably have grooves 115 for reduction in material and increased resiliency. The filler member 114 has an upper surface 116 that is preferably substantially coplanar with the surface 89 of the cover member 85.

In FIG. 7 a modification of the arrangement of the parts of the joint cover as shown and described in FIGS. 5 and 6 is provided to accommodate a floor covering 117 that overlies the upper surface 88 of the floor section 77. For this arrangement the parts are all the same except for the filler member 118. The cover member 85 is reversed and inverted so that a rib 119 extending downwardly from the cover member side adjacent the flange or member 102 is extending outwardly or upwardly adjacent the joint. The height of the rib 119 from the surface 113 of the cover member 85 substantially corresponds to the thickness of the floor covering 117 so that the upper surface 120 of said floor covering is substantially coplanar with the upper surface 121 of the rib 119. The filler member 118 is substantially the same as the filler 114 except for an increased height, said increase corresponding to the height of the rib portion 119. Except for this modification, the structure shown in FIG. 7 is the same as that illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The operation is the same in providing of a sealed engage ment between the base and cover members with the planar portion of the plate member 83 permitting movement of the building sections in all directions.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 is shown an expansion joint cover structure for use in covering the expansion joint between two building sections such as two floor sections 122 and 123 having a joint 124 therebetween, the floor sections having upper surfaces 125 intended to be substantially on the same level. In this form of the invention, there is mounted on each of the sections in opposed relationship base members 84 corresponding in structure, mounting and anchoring with that of the base member 84 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Mounted on the base member of each of the sections 122 and 123 are cover members 85 which correspond in structure and arrangement and securing to the respective base members with the cover member 85 as shown in FIGS. and 6. Therefore, the like numerals designate like parts of said structures in FIGS. 8 and 9 to those that were used in FIGS. 5 and 6. The openings 80 to the cavities 81 in the respective pairs of base members and cover plates are arranged whereby they are facing each other and a plate member 126 spans the joint 124 and extends through the openings 80 into the cavities 81, said plate member having stop portions or ribs 127 positioned in the cavities 81 and serving as stops to limit outward movement of the plate member 126 relative to the openings 80. A filler member 128 overlies the plate member 126 between the cover members 85 and has extensions 129 extending into the openings 80 and forming a resilient seal and sliding engagement with the outer surface 130 of the plate member 126 and the inner surface 113 of the cover member 85. The filler strip 128 extends longitudinally of the joint and is co-extensive with the cover members and is preferably substantially of the same structure as the filler member 114 except that the filler member 114 has a flange portion on one side only while the filler member 128 has a flange 129 extending from each side thereof, the outer surface 131 of the filler member 128 preferably as substantially coplanar with the outer surfaces 89 of the cover plates 85 and the floor surfaces 125.

The structure shown in FIG. is the same as that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 except that the cover plates 85 have been reversed and inverted in the same manner as in FIG. 7 to accommodate floor covering 132 on the fioor surfaces 125 and extending in overlying relation to the cover plate and abutting engagement with the respective rib 119. In this structure, the filler member 133 is of greater height than the filler member 128 to accommodate the upward extension of the rib 119.

The structures shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 inclusive are arranged whereby the respective base and cover member sets are secured to wall sections defining an expansion joint and present exposed surfaces of the joint covering structures that are substantially flush with exposed surfaces or covering of the building sections. Also, a plate member spans the joint and is resiliently and slidably mounted to permit relative movement of the building sections in all directions while maintaining the joint covering.

It is believed obvious that the expansion joint covers of our invention provide member sets for mounting on the building sections adjacent a joint wherein said sections have cavities therein opening toward the joint and plate members span the joint and extend into said openings with stop members to maintain said plate member in such joint spanning relation, and that said structures may accommodate various widths of expansion joints by use of appropriate widths of plate members to span the joints and filler mmebers where needed. Also, a large variety of joint cover assemblies and arrangements may be provided for accommodating various building and joint arrangements and conditions with the use of only a few different parts due to the ability to rearrange the respective parts to accommodate the different arrangements.

It is to be understood that While we have illustrated and described certain forms of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An expansion joint cover assembly for structural sections disposed in spaced relationship and defining an elongated joint therebetween, said assembly comprising,

(a) an elongate rigid base member adapted to be mounted on the outer face of one of the structural sections adjacent the margin thereof,

(b) spaced longitudinally extending first and second member portions on said base member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said second member portion being adjacent the margin of the respective structural section,

(c) an elongate rigid cover member overlying said base member,

(d) means securing said cover member to said first member portion with said cover and base members defining a longitudinally extending cavity between said first and second member portions,

(c) said cover member having a side portion overlying and spaced outwardly from said second member portion to define a longitudinally extending opening therebetween communicating with said cavity.

(f) an elongate rigid plate member having a width greater than the joint between said structural sections and positioned to overlie same,

(g) means on the other structural section supporting the plate member side portion overlying same with the other side portion extending through the opening between and spaced from the cover member and second member portion of the base member and into said cavity to cover the joint while permitting relative movement of the structural sections in any direction,

(h) the side portion of said plate member extending through the opening into the cavity being a planar element and normally spaced from the portion of the cover member which with the second member portion of the base member define said longitudinal opening,

(i) an elongate resilient seal member mounted on said cover member in the portion overlying the second member portion of said base member and resiliently and slidably engaging said planar element of said plate member to close the opening while permitting relative movement of the planar element toward the cover member,

(j) and .a second elongate resilient seal member mounted on said base member and resiliently and slidably engaging said planar element of said plate to close the opening between the base member and planar element and permit relative movement therebetween.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 adapted to be mounted on a pair of structural sections disposed in perpendicular relationship and wherein said base member and cover member are on one structural section with the opening between said members adjacent the joint between the structural sections and wherein,

(a) said plate member is of generally transversely L- shaped configuration provided with first and second planar elements with the first planar element adapted to be mounted on the other structural section and the second planar element extending therefrom through the opening between the cover member and the second member portion of the base member into the cavity.

3. The expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said resilient seal member mounted on said cover member is an elongate resilient filler member having a body portion and a flange portion, said flange portion being positioned between said second planar element of said plate member and said cover member, said body portion being positioned in an overlying relation with said second planar element, said body member having an outer surface positioned coplanar with an outer surface of said cover member.

4. An expansion joint cover assembly for structural sections disposed in spaced relationship and defining an elongated joint therebetween, said assembly comprising,

(a) an elongate rigid base member adapted to be mounted on the outer face of one of the structural sections adjacent the margin thereof,

(b) spaced longitudinally extending first and second member portions on said base member and projecting outwardly therefrom, said second member portion being adjacent the margin of the respective structural section,

(c) an elongate rigid cover member overlying said base member,

((1) means securing said cover member to said first member portion with said cover and base members defining a longitudinally extending cavity between said first and second member portions,

(e) said cover member having a side portion overlying and spaced outwardly from said second member portion to define a longitudinally extending opening therebetween communicating with said cavity,

(f) an elongate rigid plate member having a width greater than the joint between said structural sections and positioned to overlie same,

(g) means on the other structural section supporting the plate member side portion overlying same with the other side portion extending through the opening between and spaced from the cover member and second member portion of the base member and into said cavity to cover the joint while permitting relative movement of the structural sections in any direction,

(h) a second elongate rigid base member adapted to be mounted on the outer face of said other structural section adjacent the joint between said structural sections,

(i) spaced longitudinally extending first and second member portions on said second base member and projecting outwardly therefrom with the second member portion being adjacent the joint,

(j) a second elongate rigid cover member overlying said second base member,

(k) means securing said second cover member to said first member portion of the second base member with said second cover member and said second base member defining a longitudinally extending cavity between the first and second member portions of said second base member,

(I) said second cover member having a portion overlying and spaced outwardly from said second member portion of the second base member to define a longitudinally extending opening therebetween communicating with the cavity between the second cover member and second base member,

(In) said elongate plate member having a width greater than the spacing between the base members with the other side portion extending through the opening between the second member portion of the second base member and the portion of the second cover member and into the cavity therebetween,

(n) and abutment members on the portions of the plate member in the respective cavities and spaced from the walls thereof to limit movement of the plate member from the respective cavities,

(0) an elongate resilient seal member mounted on each of said base members in said second member portions and resiliently and slidably engaging said planar element of said plate member, and

(p) an elongate resilient filler member having a body portion and flange portions, said flange portions being positioned between said planar element of said plate member and said cover members at said portion overlying said second member portion of said base members, said body portion being positioned in an overlying relation with said planar element, said body portion having an outer surface positioned coplanar with an outer surface of said cover members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,8-66 12/1914 Cordes 94l8 2,160,758 5/ 1939 Schurman 94-18 X 2,226,886 12/1940 Willis 52573 X 2,511,074 6/ 1950 Miller 52278 X 2,904,992 9/1959 Cruser 52573 X 3,052,330 9/1962 Hammitt et a1 52395 X 3,170,268 2/1965 Balzer et al. 5227-8 3,183,626 5/1965 Schmitt 52396 X 3,270,474 9/1966 Driggers 52278 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. ALFRED C. PERHAM, Examiner. 

